Former BBC newsreader Polly Evans reveals how her ‘life unravelled’ after losing voice her voice to mystery illness and being forced to quit TV

by

Polly Adams, a former BBC newsreader, has shared how her life fell apart after a strange illness caused her to lose her voice. This led to her leaving her job as the host of BBC South East Today in 2017.

The presenter, who hosted the main regional program for more than ten years alongside Rob Smith, remembers first feeling sick after developing a cough on a flight back from Abu Dhabi.

Even after taking antibiotics repeatedly, her condition got worse. Her voice became increasingly weak, and she struggled to say certain words, which people noticed while watching her.

Polly recently wrote about experiencing a frustrating problem while public speaking: she noticed her throat would constrict, making it difficult to speak loudly and clearly. This created a cycle where worrying about her throat tightening actually made it harder to speak.

She remembered a deeply upsetting moment during a live broadcast when she completely lost her voice. She described feeling overwhelmed, explaining that her job was so central to her sense of self that losing it felt like a loss of identity. It wasn’t just about her career ending; it made her question who she was as a person.

Polly had to stop acting on camera and work behind the scenes. After a year and a half of medical tests, she was finally diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD).

Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological condition that causes unwanted muscle spasms in the voice box, resulting in a voice that can sound strained, tight, or broken.

In an article for The Telegraph, she explained that receiving a diagnosis didn’t bring relief, but devastation. She had hoped for a problem she could solve, and the diagnosis, with no known cure, felt like a life sentence.

Polly explored many different therapies to ease her symptoms, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, acupuncture, and even Botox injections in her vocal cords.

She especially valued the time she spent with a career coach, who helped her figure out how to use her experience in new jobs after leaving live television.

Polly is now a radio producer, creating and ordering audio shows for children, which she finds very rewarding.

BBC executives have reportedly put monitors in place to oversee Naga Munchetty following an official review of her conduct.

The BBC Breakfast host, age 50, earns between £355,000 and £360,000 annually. While an investigation is ongoing, she’s reportedly allowed to continue working, but will only collaborate with specific producers.

Naga Munchetty, a familiar face on daytime television for fifteen years and also a host on Radio 5, was investigated in August following reports that some coworkers had raised concerns about her behavior, describing it as harsh and bullying.

However, last week, managers decided to take the matter more seriously and start a formal investigation following additional complaints.

Okay, so I’m hearing from inside sources that Naga Munchetty isn’t being removed from television, but there’s now a bit more oversight. Basically, some members of the production team are keeping a closer eye on her and how she’s interacting with others on set. It’s a subtle change, but it’s definitely happening.

She can only communicate with a limited number of people, which isn’t a good way to operate. Everyone is hoping the situation will be resolved quickly.

The Daily Mail reached out to representatives for Naga Munchetty for a statement. The BBC responded by saying they don’t discuss individual employee issues.

Naga Munchetty’s position at the BBC is now uncertain, and some believe the recent resignation of Deborah Turness could put her job at risk.

As a lifestyle and media observer, I was really surprised to see Deborah, the CEO of BBC News, step down last week. It all stemmed from an issue with how Panorama edited a speech given by the President – a pretty significant misstep that ultimately led to her departure. It’s a reminder that even in high-profile positions, attention to detail and accuracy are absolutely crucial.

According to a source, the ongoing issues with Naga have been a major burden for Breakfast since June, when The Sun first reported on the widespread bullying at Media City.

Unlike other cases which have been resolved, the review of Naga’s performance has led to more complaints being filed against her.

Honestly, things are escalating quickly. What started as a preliminary look is now a full-blown investigation. And, let’s be real, people are definitely talking – they’re suggesting Deborah’s leaving and this investigation are connected, and it’s hard to ignore that timing. It’s a messy situation, and I’m seeing a lot of speculation about what’s really going on.

The BBC has consistently refused to discuss the claims, stating they don’t comment on specific employee issues.

Read More

2025-12-01 21:04